Yarn package mounting for creel apparatus

ABSTRACT

The yarn package mounting comprises a block assembly removably secured to a cross bar of the creel. A yarn package holder has a spindle terminating in an angularly related end portion which is inserted into an aperture on the block assembly for pivotal movement therein. The block assembly includes a pair of opposite bearing surfaces in the path of the spindle to limit the pivotal movement thereof between two positions which correspondingly define the two preferred positions for the yarn package on the creel.

0 United States Patent 1 3,568,951

[72] Inventors Joseph Neuburger [56] References Cited g l z ti Mal N Y Ed rd UNITED STATES PATENTS war ossen, verne, wa w schussel g Prussia, Pa. 3,150,845 9/1964 Pool 242/131 [21] Appl. No. 820,072 Primary Examinerl.eonard D, Christian 22 Fil d A 29, 1969 Attorneys-Edwin Levisohn and Henry R. Lerner [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Stop-Motion Devices Corporation Plainview, NY.

ABSTRACT: The yarnpackage mounting comprises a block [54] MOUNTING FOR CREEL assembly removably secured to a cross bar of the creel. A yarn 5 Claims 4 Drawin m 8 package holder has a spindle terminating in an angularly re-' g g lated end portion which is inserted into an aperture on the [52] U.S. Cl. 242/131 block assembly for pivotal movement therein. The block'as- [51 Int. Cl. B65h 49/02, sembly includes a pair of opposite bearing surfaces in the path D02h 1/00, D03j 5/08 of the spindle to limit the pivotal movement thereof between [50] Field ofSearch 242/129.5,

two positions which correspondingly define the two preferred positions for the yarn package on the creel.

PATENTED MAR 9 ml YARN PACKAGE MOUNTING FOR CREEL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Creel apparatus for mounting a plurality of yarn packages whose .yarn in intended to be supplied to a textile machine have acquired increasing popularity for a number of significant reasons. One of these reasons is that, in a creel, all of the yarn packages are normally reachable from normal ground level and are thus far more easily accessible, thus considerably reducing the task of replacing yarn packages. Another reason for the use of creel apparatus is that it travels from its packages to the knitting machine, such being practically impossible without creel apparatus as in such case the yarn is conventionally located atop the textile machine.

Creel apparatus, therefore, is highly desirable from a number of standpoints, although it is evident that one of the resulting drawbacks is that creel apparatus requires additional space at floor level. With space being a most significant factor, it becomes necessary, in order to operate economically, to place the yarn packages as closely as possible to each other on the creel in order to reduce the overall space requirements.

While it has been possible to place yarn packages in very close proximity to each other on thecreel yarn package supporting bar, the advantages have'been offset by the accompanying difficulty in connection with the removal or replacement of yarn packages so mounted on the creel. More specifically, because of the closeness of the yarn packages, removal thereof, during a period of activity of the creel, becomes a very delicate'task if it is to be done without interfering with the normal functioning of adjacent yarn packages.

The above mentioned problems have been resolved by the present invention. t

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A creel frame is provided with conventional crossbarsfor mounting the yarn packages. In conventional creels, the crossbars are provided with a plurality of spaced pins, fixedly secured thereto, extending from the bar at the requisite angularity, and these pins receive the yarn packages to support the latter.

In accordance with the present invention, the crossbar is provided instead, with a plurality of swivel block assemblies adapted to receive the yarn packages in a manner which enables the latter to assume at least two different positions, one of which is the operative position in which the yarn package is positioned on the creel in closely spaced relation to the yarn packages adjacent thereto, and the other of which is more distant from the adjacent packages wherein the yarn package can be removed, replaced, or otherwise dealt with without interfering with the adjacent yarn packages More specifically, the yarn package receiving spindle terminates in an end portion which is angularly related to the axis of the spindle and which is insertable in a transverse aperture on the swivel block assembly. Accordingly, the yarn package holder is pivotable about the spindle end portion within the assembly. The swivel block assembly is additionally provided with a pair of bearing surfaces which define the two positions that the yarn package assembly can occupy, one of these being the operative position, and the other being the position in which a yarn package is to be removed or replaced on the particular yarn package holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a creel apparatus equipped with yarn package mounting means, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a pair of yarn packages mounted in accordance with the invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIME NT Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. I a creel apparatus adapted to supply yarn from a plurality of yarn packages to a knitting machine. Creel 10 comprises a modular frame having a pair of parallel spaced vertically extending posts 12 and 14 provided with transverse bars l6 and 18, and transverse bars and 22, respectively. Posts 12 and 14 are maintained in parallel spaced relationship by crossbars 24 and 26 extending between transverse bars 16 and 20, by crossbars 28 and 30 extending between transverse bars 18 and 22, and by additional crossbars 34, 38 and 40,.all of which form part of the modular creel frame structure. Posts 12 and 14 terminate at their lower extremities into a base (not shown) suitably supported on the floor surface. 6

Crossbars 24, 26 at one elevation and. crossbars 28 and 30 at a higher elevation define the support means for the yarn package mounting means 1 for the creel, as will best be described by reference to FIGS. 2, Sand 4. The yarn package holder 42 includes apackage support plate 44, which may be circular, through which there centrally extends a spindle 46. Conventional yarn package engaging means 48 may be secured to spindle 46 as by screw means 50, for more stably retaining yarn package 52 on support plate 44. The portion of spindle 46 which extends'below support plate 44 terminates in an end portion 54 which is angularly related to the principal axis of spindle 46.

A swivel block assembly 56, for supporting yarn package holder 42, is removably secured to crossbar 24, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Swivel block assembly 56 comprises upper section 58 and lower section 60 secured to crossbar 24 by a pair of bolts 62. Upper section 58 is provided with a transverse aperture 64 adapted to receive spindle end 54 of yarn package holder 42, and with a pair of forwardly extending projections 66 and 68 at opposite sides of aperture 64.'Projections 66 and 68 include, respectively, bearing surfaces 70 and "72 along downwardly a'nd inwardly extending planes.

The insertion of spindle end 54 into aperture 64 permits the yarn package holder 42 to selectively assume either the inclined position shown by the full lines in FIG. 4, in which spindle 46 rests upon bearing surface 70, or the inclined .position shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 4, in which spindle 46 rests upon bearing surface 72. Spindle end 54 may be locked in either position against pivotal or axial movement, by engagement of set screw 74 with reduced neck portion 76 on the spindle. When all the yarn packages mounted on the creel are in their operative position, they are all similarly inclined as best shown in FIG. 1. In such position, which is the conventional position for mounting yarn packages on a creel, it is cumbersome, as well as delicate, to remove a yarn package without interfering with the yarn packages adjacent thereto. In accordance with the swivel block assembly construction described herein, when a yarn package is to be removed or replaced, the yarn package holder is merely tilted so that the spindle is moved to rest against the opposite bearing surface in which it can easily be removed or replaced without interfering with the yarn packages adjacent thereto.

It will be understood that aperture 64 may be a through aperture and that a pair of rearwardly extending projections similar to 66 and '68 could be provided at the rear side of section 58 in which event spindle end 54 could be inserted at either side of the swivel block assembly for yet greater flexibility and versatility.

The unusual convenience and facility of removing and replacing yarn packages in accordance with the subject construction permits far more effective and efficient utilization of conventional creels as it enables yarn packages to be operatively mounted in closer proximity to each other than is normally the case, thus resulting in a much more efficient utilization of space. a

With reference to FIG. 1, it will be noted that crossbars 34, 38 and 40 carry yarn guides and stop motions, respectively,

I which are conventionally interposed in the path of the yarn between the package therefor and the knitting machine, but

do not form part of the present invention.

We claim:

1. ln a creel apparatus adapted to supply yarn from a plurality of yarn packages to a textile machine, and having a bar adapted to carry said packages in close side by side relation, means for mounting said yarn packages on said bar comprisa. block assembly adapted to be removably secured to said bar;

b. a yarn package holder including a spindle;

c. cooperating means on said block assembly and said spindle for selectively mounting said yarn package holder in a plurality of different positions; and

d. said block assembly comprising an upper and lower section secured together with said bar therebetween.

2. The improvement as specified in claim 1, wherein said spindle terminates in end portion angularly related to the principal axis of the spindle, said upper section is provided with a cylindrical aperture extending in a direction substantially parallel to said rod, said spindle end portion being receivable in said aperture for pivotal movement therewithin, and said upper section having a pair of bearing surfaces on opposite sides of said aperture and in the path of movement of said spindle to define a pair of limiting positions therefor.

3. The improvement as specified in claim 2, wherein there are provided means for locking said spindle end portion within said aperture against axial and pivotal movement thereof.

4. In a creel apparatus adapted to supply yarn from a plurality of yarn packages to textile machine, and having a bar adapted to carry said packages in close side by side relation, means for mounting said yarn packages on said bar comprismg:

a. a block assembly adapted to be removably secured to said bar;

b. a yarn package holder including a spindle;

c. cooperating means on said block assembly and said spindle for selectively mounting said yarn package holder in a plurality of different positions;

d. said spindle terminating in an end portion angularly related to the principal axis of the spindle;

e. said cooperating means comprising said spindle end portion and an aperture in said assembly for receiving said end portion, whereby said spindle is pivotally movable within said aperture; and

f. said block assembly being provided with a pair of bearing surfaces on opposite sides of said aperture and in the path of pivotal movement of said spindle to define a pair of limiting positions for said spindle.

5. The improvement as specified in claim 4, wherein there are provided means for locking said spindle end portion within said aperture against axial and pivotal movement thereof. 

1. In a creel apparatus adapted to supply yarn from a plurality of yarn packages to a textile machine, and having a bar adapted to carry said packages in close side by side relation, means for mounting said yarn packages on said bar comprising: a. block assembly adapted to be removably secured to said bar; b. a yarn package holder including a spindle; c. cooperating means on said block assembly and said spindle for selectively mounting said yarn package holder in a plurality of different positions; and d. said block assembly comprising an upper and lower section secured together with said bar therebetween.
 2. The improvement as specified in claim 1, wherein said spindle terminates in end portion angularly related to the principal axis of the spindle, said upper section is provided with a cylindrical aperture extending in a direction substantially parallel to said rod, said spindle end portion being receivable in said aperture for pivotal movement therewithin, and said upper section having a pair of bearing surfaces on opposite sides of said aperture and in the path of movement of said spindle to define a pair of limiting positions therefor.
 3. The improvement as specified in claim 2, wherein there are provided means for locking said spindle end portion within said aperture against axial and pivotal movement thereof.
 4. In a creel apparatus adapted to supply yarn from a plurality of yarn packages to textile machine, and having a bar adapted to carry said packages in close side by side relation, means for mounting said yarn packages on said bar comprising: a. a block assembly adapted to be removably secured to said bar; b. a yarn package holder including a spindle; c. cooperating means on said block assembly and said spindle for selectively mounting said yarn package holder in a plurality of different positions; d. said spindle terminating in an end portion angularly related to the principal axis of the spindle; e. said cooperating means comprising said spindle end portion and an aperture in said assembly for receiving said end portion, whereby said spindle is pivotally movable within said aperture; and f. said block assembly being provided with a pair of bearing surfaces on opposite sides of said aperture and in the path of pivotal movement of said spindle to define a pair of limiting positions for said spindle.
 5. The improvement as specified in claim 4, wherein there are provided means for locking said spindle end portion within said aperture against axial and pivotal movement thereof. 